HELSINKI-PLANNING-DEPT

The State of Finland and City of Helsinki have launched a Competition
for the design and construction of the Central Pasila Tower Area located
in Helsinki next to the most important transport hub in the metropolitan
area. The Helsinki metropolitan area is growing at a rapid pace, and
Pasila is one of the major districts in Helsinki that is currently
undergoing renewal. Pasila is estimated to have 30,000 residents and
more than 50,000 jobs by the year 2040.

The area covered by the competition is located to the south of the new
Pasila central block called Tripla and the busiest railway station in
Finland. The aim of the competition is to find a premium residential,
office and retail concept that spans a total of 150,000–200,000 floor
square metres. The local detailed plan and implementation of the tower
area will be based on the winning concept. The organisers are also
looking for a buyer and a developer for a start-up area of 40,000–65,000
floor square metres.

The aim is to create a tower area that is both urban and
pedestrian-friendly. One of the criteria given in the design programme
is that the tower area must also include some low-rise buildings or
structures to make it more pleasant for pedestrians.

Construction is already in full swing in Central Pasila. The new Pasila
central block called Tripla is under construction and it will connect
the eastern and western parts of Pasila, the residential area that will
be built in the north and the southern tower area.

The two-phase competition concludes in autumn 2018

The competition comprises two phases. The candidates start by preparing
plan proposals for the entire area. The evaluation team assesses the
quality of the proposals and selects 2–4 candidates to move on to the
second phase.

During the second phase, the candidates prepare more detailed plans for
the western part of the area and the start-up area. The start-up area
will weigh more in the assessment of entries in the second phase.
Candidates will submit their plan proposals for the first contest phase
in May 2017. The second phase will start in autumn 2017. The award
decision will be made in autumn 2018. Construction is estimated to start
in 2021.